Driver that hit and killed cyclist comes forward

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) –Police sources have confirmed that the suspect in the hit-and-run that left Lanie Kruszewski dead came to the Richmond Police headquarters Thursday, with his attorneys.

In a very brief statement, he expressed his remorse and said he was the driver of the Dodge Durango, that left the scene of the River Road accident.

A search warrant filed in the investigation of Sunday’s hit and run death of 24-year-old Kruszewski shows that police searched a 2004 Dodge Durango, beige and gold in color.

The warrant shows that hair, swabs of red stains, paint transfers, a piece of a red light cover, a piece of a front spoiler with pattern, steering wheel swabs, the grill, an unknown substance and fiber evidence were all seized from both inside and outside the vehicle.

The warrant indicates that the front right side of the Durango hit Kruszewski’s Diamondback Insight bicycle.

The warrant lists the charge as a felony hit and run in which a person was hit and killed.

City police sources told CBS 6 Monday that they were getting closer to an arrest in the hit and run. Police sources also told CBS 6 Monday that defense lawyers contacted police and made the Durango available for inspection.

The warrant granted permission to search the vehicle at an address listed as a city garage, which further validates sources that the vehicle had been surrendered by lawyers.

At this point, on Monday Richmond prosecutors plan to seek an indictment against the individual. CBS 6 has chosen not to name the person until he is formally charged. That person is a male in his late 20s.

The waitress and avid cyclist had just finished her shift at Osaka restaurant Sunday night, and was headed home eastbound on River Road, to her residence in the 600 block of Roseneath Road.

She lived there with her boyfriend, who grew concerned after she was 30 minutes late arriving home. He sounded the alarm and family went looking for Kruszewski.

“I went out looking for her,” her older sister Leah said. “I didn’t really worry about it until I saw police cars blocking off the bottom of Cary Street.”

The route was one that Kruszweski always took home, and family said she had plenty of reflectors and lights, in addition to years of biking experience.

Wednesday morning investigators with the crash team shut down a three block area on River Road to reconstruct the crime scene and collect any remaining evidence.

Funeral services for Kruszewski will be held Friday at 3 p.m. at Maggie Walker Governor’s School. The family is asking that donations go to Brainfood, Virginia Bicycling Federation, and Maggie Walker Governor’s School Foundation (804-354-1566).